(A) All persons desiring water service to premises not contiguous to existing water and sewage department mains shall submit an application to the water and sewage department for approval of the requested extension of the county water system. The application shall be made by the owner, lessee or their duly authorized agent for the property to be benefitted. The county reserves the right, at its discretion, to refuse service to any application, or to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which the extension shall be approved. Upon compliance with all terms and conditions prescribed by the county or established by any ordinance, law, rule or regulation established by the county or the water and sewage department, the county may permit the requested extension. No extension shall be approved or permitted which does not comply with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
(B) All extensions of the county water system shall be made by the water and sewage department or licensed contractors approved by the county, and must be in compliance with SCDHEC rules and regulations. The applicant shall submit to the county detailed plans and specifications of the proposed extension and other information as may be required by the county, before the proposed extension of the county water system shall be considered.
(C) Any person, partnership, association, corporation, municipality or other entity which shall hereafter install, layout or commence the construction of any water main, water system or extension to any water main or system in the unincorporated area of the county shall install fire hydrants on the water main, water system or extension in the unincorporated area of the county, which meet minimum standards for fire hydrant construction, design and installation promulgated in NFPA standards, at intervals not to exceed 1,000 feet in residential areas, and 300 feet in commercial or industrial areas. Fire hydrants shall be installed so as to be accessible by fire apparatus at all intersections. Fire hydrants shall, at all times, be connected to a water supply so as to provide water for purposes of combating fire. Fire hydrants connected to non-potable water sources are to be painted purple and labeled as a non-potable water source.
(D) All water mains, water systems or extensions to any water main or system shall be designed to supply the demands of customers, while maintaining a residual pressure of 25 psi for maximum instantaneous demand, and 20 psi for fire flow or flushing flows in excess of peak hourly demands. If a private community water system which has been granted a water service franchise by the county cannot meet these requirements, the community water system may be excluded from the placement of fire hydrants on the water line, upon review by the county engineering department. The private community water system will be required to place stub-outs at intervals not to exceed 1,000/300 feet, in accordance with division (C) above, along public roadways accessible by fire apparatus positioned on the road right-of-way. The stub-out shall, at a minimum, consist of the following:
(1) One six-inch tee with thrust blocking;
(2) One six-inch gate valve with box;
(3) One six-inch mechanical joint plug; and
(4) Appropriate thrust blocking.
(E) Before the county will accept any private community water system into the county water system, the water line shall meet all county and SCDHEC standards, including but not limited to, the setting of fire hydrants on all stub-outs. If the water line does not meet county standards, it shall be upgraded, at the owner’s expense, to meet the standards before it is accepted.
(F) The county manager is authorized to approve agreements and contracts for the extension of the county water system, provided the following criteria or provisions have been made:
(1) The applicant is responsible for all costs associated with the extension, and no direct financial contribution is made by the county toward the cost of the extension;
(2) Reimbursement is not provided by the county to the applicant;
(3) All extensions of county water mains, pumping facilities, storage tanks, valves, fire hydrants and other facilities and appurtenances shall be constructed in accordance with the standards of the county and the SCDHEC;
(4) All improvements specified in division (F)(3) above shall be offered for dedication to the county in a turn-key manner, at the time that a permit to operate has been issued. The improvements shall be offered with appropriate easements and rights-of-way, in a form acceptable to the county;
(5) The applicant shall warrant the system to be free from defect for a minimum period of one year from the time of acceptance by the county;
(6) All properties owned or controlled by the applicant, to which service is being extended, shall be required to connect to the system at the time of development. In approving the arrangements, the county manager shall establish other conditions and criteria for extensions of the county system as he or she deems necessary and appropriate.
(‘77 Code, § 7-54) (Ord. 1485, passed 10-7-85; Am. Ord. 5795, passed 11-6-95; Am. Ord. 6396, passed 12-16-96; Am. Ord. 498, passed 1-5-98; Am. Ord. 2003, passed 7-21-03; Am. Ord. 5206, passed 12-18-06)